10 day morocco jewish heritage tours

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca – Jewish Museum and Synagogues

Welcome to Morocco. Upon arrival at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, your private driver-guide will meet you. Start your visit with a tour of Casablanca’s Jewish heritage sites. Explore the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, featuring artifacts, photographs, and religious items. Then, visit the well-preserved Beth-El Synagogue, a key site for Casablanca’s Jewish community. Walk through the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter, and stop by the Jewish cemetery, where Hebrew inscriptions reveal centuries of Jewish life. Enjoy dinner at a kosher-friendly or traditional Moroccan restaurant.

Overnight in Casablanca

Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Jewish Quarters and Synagogues

In this second day after your breakfast, travel north to Rabat, Morocco’s coastal capital. Visit the Rabat Mellah, once a lively Jewish neighborhood. See the Jewish cemetery and the Shalom Zaoui Synagogue, recognized for its colorful interior. Continue to Meknes, a historic imperial city. Explore its Jewish quarter near the Royal Palace and visit the Talmud Torah Synagogue, a notable example of Jewish architecture. Discover the local cemetery and learn about the historical connection between Jews and the Moroccan monarchy.

Driving time: about 3.5 hours

Overnight in Meknes

Day 3: Meknes – Volubilis – Fes – Jewish Heritage and Traditions

Begin with a short drive to Volubilis, the well-preserved Roman ruins where Jews once lived alongside Romans and Berbers. Then travel to Fes, a city deeply tied to Jewish history. Visit the Ibn Danan Synagogue, one of North Africa’s oldest, restored to its original condition. Explore the 15th-century Fes Mellah and its Jewish cemetery, marked by white tombstones. End the day at the Museum of Moroccan Judaism in Fes and stroll through the vibrant medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Driving time: about 2.5 hours

Overnight in Fes

Day 4: Fes – Midelt – Erfoud – Journey Through the Atlas Mountains

Following the tour, drive through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains to reach Erfoud, a town often called the gateway to the Sahara. Stop in Midelt, a quiet town with a small Jewish heritage and a history of a once lively Jewish community. Enjoy views of Berber villages, cedar forests, and rocky landscapes along the route. Upon arrival in Erfoud, get ready for your desert adventure. This area was a stop for Jewish merchants who traveled ancient caravan routes.

Driving time: about 7 hours

Overnight in Erfoud

Day 5: Erfoud – Rissani – Merzouga Sahara Desert – Camel Ride and Night Under the Stars

Start the day in Rissani, formerly Sijilmassa, a key center for Jewish and Berber trade. Explore local ksars and hear about Jewish traders who helped shape the region’s prosperity. Then head to Merzouga and the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Take a camel ride into the Sahara Desert at sunset, followed by a traditional Berber dinner under the stars. Spend the night in a luxury desert camp surrounded by quiet and sand.

Optional: Sunset camel trek

Overnight in a Sahara Desert camp

Day 6: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Ouarzazate – Valley of Kasbahs

Wake early to watch the sunrise over the dunes before leaving the desert. Travel west to Todra Gorges, a canyon known for its high rock walls. Pass through the Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses, areas once home to Berber and Jewish communities. Arrive in Ouarzazate, known as Africa’s “Hollywood.” Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, where a Jewish population once lived. Learn about the cultural mix that shaped this southern region for many years.

Driving time: about 6.5 hours

Overnight in Ouarzazate

Day 7: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Essaouira – Atlantic Coast and Sephardic Heritage

After breakfast, visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar with strong ties to Jewish and Berber communities. Walk its narrow alleys and admire the ancient clay buildings. Continue to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, once home to a large Sephardic Jewish community that influenced its culture and trade. The town reflects a mix of European, Jewish, and Arab influences in its architecture and atmosphere.

Driving time: about 7 hours

Overnight in Essaouira

Day 8: Jewish Heritage in Essaouira – Rabbi Haim Pinto and Synagogues

Essaouira holds an important place in Morocco’s Jewish history. Visit the Slat Lkahal Synagogue, built for religious education by the Jewish community. Pay respects at the seaside Jewish cemetery and the Tomb of Rabbi Haim Pinto, a site still visited by Jewish pilgrims worldwide. Explore the old Mellah and learn about Essaouira’s role as a center of Jewish learning and trade. Enjoy fresh seafood or kosher-friendly dishes and relax by the Atlantic Ocean in the evening.

Overnight in Essaouira

Day 9: Essaouira – Marrakech – Lazama Synagogue and Jewish Quarter

Travel to Marrakech, a city with deep history and lively culture. Explore the Mellah, Marrakech’s Jewish quarter, and visit the Lazama Synagogue, one of Morocco’s oldest still in use. Wander the narrow streets, visit the Jewish cemetery, and see Slat Al Azama, a synagogue known for its strong spiritual heritage. In the evening, explore Jemaa el-Fnaa square, enjoy street music, or sample traditional Moroccan-Jewish cuisine.

Driving time: about 3 hours

Overnight in Marrakech

Day 10: Marrakech – Departure

Depending on your flight time, spend some last moments sightseeing or shopping in Marrakech’s lively souks. Visit the Bahia Palace or relax in Majorelle Garden, home to the Berber Museum and once owned by Yves Saint Laurent. Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport for your departure, carrying lasting memories from your Morocco Jewish heritage tours, including your Sahara Desert Jewish tour and experiences of Jewish holidays in Morocco.